Knockdown reel.



R. D. WIRT.

IKNOCKDOWN REEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-30. 1918'.

P11111111 Jan. 14,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I UNITED STATES REUBEN D.WIB.'I, OE PHILADELPHLA, PENNSYLVANIA.

xnoexnown REEL.

To aZZ whom it may concern: a

Be it known that I, REUBEN D. Wnrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia,in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful] Improvements in Knockdown Reels, of which the following is a specification.

Une object of my. invention is to provide a reel which is well adapted for use in winding merchandise such, for example, as wire, cordage, tubing, or the like, and which can be readily assembled or taken apart.

Another object is to so construct my im proved reels that when taken apart they will occupy a comparatively small amount of room and thus. can be economically and conveniently shipped.

A further object is to make my improved reel of a simple and durable construction and so that it can be quickly and cheaply manufactured.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved reel,

Fig. 2 is an end view of the reel shown in Fig. 1, p

3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the heads which forms a part of my improved reel,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of a number of connecting elements which form a part of my invention, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of one of the heads illustrated in Fig. 4, showing how a lip out therei from and turned to embrace the connecting element shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, 7 and 8 represent two heads which are preferably made of sheet metal and, as illustrated, are provided with ribs or corrugations 9 and central. inwardly projecting flanges 10. Each of the heads 7 and 8 has a central hole 11 extending therethrough so that the flanges 10 form inwardly projecting hubs, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The peripheral edges of each of the heads as T and 8 have inwardly projecting flanges 12 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919..

Application filed August 30,1913. Serial No. 252,016.

and these flanges, at spaced positions, are

cut to provide lips 13 which; are bent outwardly in the form of hooks, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, and 6, to embrace cross bars 14 of head-connecting members 15. j

The head-connecting members are preferably made of a heavy strong Wire and four of these members 15 are illustrated in the drawings. 'The holes 11 of the heads are t in axial alinement and the cross bars 14 are arranged annularly and parallel with the axis. i i

The ribs or corrugations 9 of the heads have holes 16 extending therethrough and form rods 19 which extend through the holes 16 in the ribs or corrugations 9 and have their extreme ends 20 in abutment with the hubs or flanges 10. Thus each of the head connecting members 15 includes a cross bar 14, two loopedarms 18 and two rods 19, one of the rods of each head-connecting member being confined within one of the heads, the other rod being confined in the opposite head, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

A reel thus formed is extremely strong and it will not collapse or become distorted in view of the fact that the rods 19 are securely interlaced withthe ribs and corrugations to prevent lateral movement and are prevented from moving radially in opposite directions by the hubs or flanges 10 and the lips 13. Further than this, portions of each of the cross bars 14 engage the inwardly turned peripheral flanges 12 and are thus seated thereon.

To assemble the reel, before the lips 13 are completely turned into their hooked It will be noted that. by'.-forming .theribs' or corrugations and extending the holes 16 entirely therethrough from the hub- 10 to the outermost surface 21, the rods 19 will be.en-. gaged by metal on opposite sides thereof practically in the same manner as a three point contact so that said *rods 19 will have no tendency to accidentally slide out of position, especiallyif there is anyslight tension placed .upon'the heads. Therefore, I can, in some instances, eliminate the lips 13.- 1

' It will'be noted that the cross bars '14 in their annular arrangement form a skeleton drum around which material *canbe wound, said material being located between the 'armSlS."

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will beunderstood that the-various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit my self to the precise construction setforth, but consider that'Ia-m at liberty to-make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of-the appended claims.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y 1. A reel including "heads having holes therein; and connecting. members for the heads, said connecting members-including rods adapted to be freely inserted in the holes of said heads and extending beyond the peripheral edges of said heads, then bent upon themselves to form projecting loops, and thenexten'ding :toward said peripheral edges; substantially as described.

2. A. reel including heads having holes therein; connecting members for theheads, said connecting members including rods adapted to be-freely inserted in the holes of said heads, said connecting members also including cross bars extending transversely between said heads; and lips on said heads for engagement with said cross. bars to prevent the rods from being withdrawn from said holes, substantially as described.

3. A reel including heads having holes therein; and connecting members for the heads, said connecting members including rods adapted tobe freely inserted in the holes of said heads and extending beyond the peripheral edges of said heads, then bent upon themselves to form projecting loops, and then extending toward "said peripheral edges; said connecting members crossingbetween the heads adjacent the peripheral edges thereof; substantially as described.

4. A reel including heads having annularly extending corrugations therein and holes extending through said corrugations in the direction of the width of said corrugations, and connecting members for the heads, said connecting members including rods adapted to be freely inserted in the holes of said heads, substantially as described.

5. A reel including heads having corrugations therein and holes extending through said corrugations in; the direction of the width of said corrugations, connecting members fortheheads, said connecting members including rods adapted to be freely inserted in the holes of said heads, said connecting members also including cross bars extending transversely between said heads; and lips on said heads-for engagementv with said cross bars to preventthe rods from being withdrawn from said holes, substantially as described.

6. A reel including heads having corrugations therein and holes extending through. said corrugations in the direction of the width of said corrugations; and connecting members for the heads, said connecting members including rods adapted to be free] y inserted in the holes of said heads, said connecting members also including cross bars extending transversely between saidheads, said heads having inwardly projecting peripheral flanges, said flanges being cut away to provide lips, said lips being adapted for engagement with the cross bars of said head-connecting members whereby said rods are prevented from movement out of said holes, substantially as described.

7. A reel including heads having holes therein; connecting members forthe heads, said connecting members including rods adapted to befreely inserted in the holes of said heads, said connecting members also including cross bars extending transversely between said heads, said connecting members having looped arms formed by a continuation of said cross bars and rods; and means on said head for engagement with the cross bars between said looped arms, substantially as described.

In'testimony whereof I have signed my name .tothis specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I REUBEN D. WIRT. Witnesses:

AUGUSTUS B. Corrns, CHAS. E. Porrs.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained-for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatentu,

Washington, D. G. 

